LLANDUDNO continued their remorseless charge towards a fifth consecutive Premier Division title on Saturday and extended their lead at the top to 100 points with a six-wicket win over Connah’s Quay.

The Flintshire side were invited to bat first at The Oval and found runs hard to come by in a total of 180-9 declared off 49 overs, Darren Jones top-scoring with 55. Other significant contributors were David Fox (33), Gareth Jones (23) and Mitchell van Wyk (22) as Gordon Kerr took 5-40.

The home side cruised to 181-4 in 43 overs, Duncan Midgley leading the way with 69 and Jordan Kane hitting an unbeaten 57, with van Wyk returning figures of 3-31.

Second-placed Mold came up short in a low-scoring affair at Chirk, the home side more than successfully defending a modest total of 145 that would have been considerably less but for the efforts of middle order men Ben Hipkiss (48), Shaun Walker (26) and Chris Pritchard (20), Usman Butt claiming 4-42.

But the visitors failed to take their opportunity in a dismal reply that saw them limp to 114 all out in 32 overs. Only James Griffiths (36) and tail-enders Gareth Evans (21) and Jon Bedbrook (22no) hung around for any length of time as four Chirk bowlers shared the wickets, Nick Flack taking 3-21.

Bangor closed to within two points of Mold by virtue of a winning draw at Pontblyddyn where overseas professional David Winter carried the visitors to 181 with a magnificent knock of 103 before being run out. Only three other team-mates were in double figures as Ben Mason and Mark Neath each took three wickets.

In reply, Pontblyddyn also struggled to reach 125-6 off 56 overs, Phil Davies topping the chart with 32 as Winter took 2-37 and Peter Banham 3- 21.

St Asaph picked up their eighth win of the season at the expense of third-bottom Hawarden Park, who were undone at home by two half-centuries from Trevor Bauer and William Ryan in the Saints score of 204-9 declared, Jamie Ducker doing most of the damage with 5-61.

Park made a decent start to the chase, opener Tom Ducker scoring 40, but Matt Hulse struck to take three quick wickets and despite resistance from Ian Martin (20) and Michael Parton (21), Paul Fleming swept up five of the last wickets for just 10 runs in a total of 133 in the 39th over.

Mochdre picked up a vital winning draw at home to struggling Brymbo, who rued their decision to bowl as the home side rattled up 331-7 off 50 overs. Will Evans (80) and Gareth Johnson put on 130 for the first wicket and Adam Campion chipped in with 55 as the visiting bowlers toiled, Robin Ranson the pick with 4-80.

The visitors looked to be down and out at 113-5, but James Claybrook held firm for an unbeaten 106 and put on 97 for the sixth wicket with Jamie Griffiths (40) to help his side to 231-6 at the close of play.

In the division’s other match, Menai Bridge hammered visitors Llanrwst by 285 runs.

Dion Holden cut loose for 152 in a total of 331-3 declared by the home side and their dispirited opponents were swept aside for a meagre 44 inside 19 overs, Robbie Jones taking 5-17.